Aaron Kidd

Available housing in short supply on and off Navy’s largest installation in Japan A severe shortage of military-approved housing around Yokosuka Naval Base has left troops and civilian personnel waiting a month or more for vacancies.

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Military and civilian personnel expecting to live outside this installation south of Tokyo may have to wait a month or more for a vacancy due to a severe shortage of military-approved housing.

Soldiers vie for title of top ordnance disposal team in Pacific theater Soldiers from four explosive ordnance teams spent the week on Oahu vying to represent the Pacific in the all-Army EOD Team of the Year competition in April.

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Soldiers from four explosive ordnance teams spent the week on Oahu vying to represent the Pacific theater in the all-Army EOD Team of the Year competition in April.

Fishermen say Japan’s coast guard is warning them away from Senkaku Islands amid China row Commercial fishermen on a remote Japanese island say the Japan coast guard has urged them to avoid fishing near the disputed Senkaku Islands.

Commercial fishermen on a remote Japanese island say the Japan coast guard has urged them to avoid fishing near the disputed Senkaku Islands ever since November comments by their prime minister increased tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

Marine declared dead after falling off USS Iwo Jima in Caribbean Sea A Marine who fell overboard into the Caribbean Sea while deployed on the USS Iwo Jima was declared dead after a three-day search.

A U.S. Marine who fell overboard into the Caribbean Sea while deployed on the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima was declared dead this week after a three-day search, according to the Marine Corps.

Rare photos of 2 Navy submarines operating together off Guam draw attention Two U.S. Navy submarines surfacing side by side off Guam has prompted discussion about undersea signaling in the Indo-Pacific.

Two U.S. Navy fast-attack submarines surfacing side by side off Guam — a rare sight for vessels designed to remain unseen — has drawn attention online and prompted discussion about undersea signaling in the Indo-Pacific.

Historic appointment puts South Korean woman in senior combat division post A South Korean brigadier general has become the first South Korean woman to serve as a deputy commander of the 2nd Infantry Division.

A South Korean brigadier general has become the first South Korean woman to serve as a deputy commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, the only U.S. Army division that integrates troops from another country into its ranks.

Chinese coast guard ships make second incursion near Senkaku Islands this year Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japan’s territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands for the second time this year amid ongoing tensions.

Four Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japan’s territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands this week, marking the second such incursion this year amid ongoing tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

Search underway for swimmer who went missing in rough waters off Guam A search continued off Guam’s shore for a 22-year-old man swept beyond the reef line off Tanguisson Beach, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

A multiagency search continued Wednesday in rough waters around Guam for a 22-year-old man swept beyond the reef line off Tanguisson Beach while swimming the previous evening, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

US, South Korea fly fewer air drills but sharply increase joint combat sorties U.S. and South Korean fighter jets kicked off an expanded Buddy Squadron exercise with more sorties, larger forces to strengthen joint air readiness.

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — U.S. and South Korean fighters launched Monday from this base south of Seoul for a scaled-up round of aerial combat training that will feature fewer drills but significantly more flights and participating forces, according to the South’s Ministry of National Defense.

Think tank calls for keeping Guam-bound Marines on Okinawa to counter China A report from a U.S. foreign policy think tank is urging the U.S. to renegotiate an agreement with Japan to reduce the Marine Corps presence on Okinawa.

A new report from a U.S. foreign policy think tank is urging Washington to renegotiate a decades-old agreement with Japan to reduce the Marine Corps presence on Okinawa, arguing that the deal should instead be reversed to strengthen deterrence against China.

China and South Korea hold rare defense talks, eye return of joint rescue drills China and South Korea have discussed resuming joint maritime search-and-rescue drills that have been suspended for about 15 years, officials said.

China and South Korea have discussed resuming joint maritime search-and-rescue drills that have been suspended for about 15 years, according to the South’s Ministry of National Defense.

Marine expeditionary brigade on Okinawa changes hands ahead of Iron Fist drills Brig. Gen. Ryan Hoyle — an infantry officer with experience in Okinawa, Italy, Iraq and Afghanistan — took command of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa — An infantry officer with experience in Okinawa, Italy, Iraq and Afghanistan has taken command of the Marine Corps’ only permanently deployed expeditionary brigade.

Record snowfall prompts avalanche and travel warnings for northern Japan Heavy snowfall is forecast across Japan, prompting warnings about avalanches, hazardous travel conditions and increased risks for skiers and snowboarders.

Heavy snowfall is forecast across parts of Japan this weekend, prompting warnings about avalanches, hazardous travel conditions and increased risks for skiers and snowboarders.

Navy snow sculpture in Japan draws comparisons to Beatles’ ‘Yellow Submarine’ Navy snow sculpture made by sailors in Japan feature a submarine

SAPPORO, Japan — Short on experience but not creativity, a U.S. Navy snow-sculpting team leaned into a playful design that’s got some people humming a popular Beatles tune at this city’s annual Snow Festival.

Navy base in southern Japan marks its 80th anniversary with a symbolic gathering U.S. sailors joined American and Japanese civilian employees for a special photo to mark the 80th anniversary of Sasebo Naval Base in southern Japan.

U.S. sailors recently joined American and Japanese civilian employees to mark Sasebo Naval Base’s 80th anniversary, gathering to form the number 80 for a commemorative photo at the installation in southern Japan.

Logistics piece of Air Force’s combat plan a work in progress, undersecretary says Aspects of the Air Force’s agile combat plan have shown to be effective, but some logistics pieces remain a work in progress, according to Matthew Lohmeier.

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Shortly after Matthew Lohmeier became undersecretary of the Air Force in July, the former fighter pilot was briefed about the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that took place just weeks earlier.

US airman refuses to pay restitution after Okinawa sexual assault conviction A U.S. airman convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on Okinawa is facing a civil trial.

NAHA, Okinawa — A U.S. airman convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on Okinawa is facing a civil trial after objecting to a court order requiring him to pay the victim about $17,500.

Yokota-born airman is third generation to serve at airlift hub in western Tokyo An Air Force technical sergeant continues a family tradition, working at Yokota Air Base, where his father and grandfather were stationed before.

EDITOR'S PICK | You could say Leo Plummer, an Air Force technical sergeant who works at the U.S. airlift hub in western Tokyo, kept a family tradition alive.

US aircraft, businesses among ‘anchor’ participants at this year’s Singapore Airshow The Defense Department sent four aircraft and the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific to participate in the Singapore Airshow.

The Defense Department continued its long-running string of appearances at the Singapore Airshow by sending four aircraft and the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific to participate in the event this week.

Hawaii’s 25th Infantry Division gears up for combat ‘rehearsals’ in the Philippines The 25th Infantry Division out of Fort Shafter in Hawaii, heads to the Philippines next month to participate in the U.S. Army Pacific’s annual Operation Pathways training engagements that country’s a...

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — The Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division heads to the Philippines next month for its part in U.S. Army Pacific’s annual Operation Pathways training engagements with that nation’s armed forces. Just don’t call them “exercises.”

A new 3-star general will lead 5th Air Force amid transformation of US Forces Japan Joel Carey is set to take command of 5th Air Force in Tokyo, a role recently split off from U.S. Forces Japan as the command expands into a broader mission.

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — A newly promoted lieutenant general will take command of 5th Air Force in Tokyo, a role that until recently was held by the head of U.S. Forces Japan but has now been split as the command expands into a broader mission.

Parachute jumps over American base draw fresh protests from Okinawa leaders Okinawa officials contend parachute training at Kadena Air Base is no longer justifed after the U.S. military’s primary offshore site reopened last year.

KADENA TOWN, Okinawa — Local leaders lodged complaints this week after U.S. forces carried out parachute training at Kadena Air Base for the first time since the primary offshore training site reopened late last year.

Multiday flight surge tests Air Force’s new ‘super squadrons’ in South Korea F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 35th and 36th Fighter Squadrons completed a five-day surge of high-tempo flight operations 50 miles from North Korea.

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — F-16 “super squadrons” stationed 50 miles from North Korea completed a five-day surge of high-tempo flight operations last week, testing their ability to rapidly generate combat airpower in a potential crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

US soldier, spouse recognized for quick thinking on Japanese city street A U.S. soldier and an Army spouse recently teamed up to rescue a pajama-clad preschooler from a busy street.

SAGAMIHARA, Japan — A U.S. soldier and an Army spouse recently teamed up to rescue a pajama-clad preschooler from a busy street near the headquarters of U.S. Army Japan.

Japan’s Supreme Court dismisses convicted US airman’s final appeal in sexual assault case Japan’s highest court upheld a U.S. airman’s conviction for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl just over two years ago on Okinawa.

Japan’s highest court has upheld a U.S. airman’s conviction for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl just over two years ago on Okinawa.

Pentagon near ‘final agreement’ with Scouting America on DEI policy, spokesman says Sean Parnell said DOD wants to continue providing U.S. military support for Scouting America, provided it “implements the common-sense, core value reforms.”

The Defense Department is “near a final agreement” with Scouting America to continue providing support from the U.S. military, provided the organization “implements the common-sense, core value reforms,” the department’s chief spokesman said Monday on social media.

Japan, South Korea to resume naval search-and-rescue training after 9-year pause

TOKYO — The defense ministers for Japan and South Korea, facing common challenges from North Korea, agreed last week to resume naval search-and-rescue exercises paused nine years ago as part of improving defense cooperation.

Boeing to modernize South Korea’s fighter fleet under $2.8 billion DOD contract The Defense Department approved a $2.8 billion, 11-year hybrid contract with Boeing to modify F-15K Slam Eagle fighters for the South Korean air force.

The Defense Department approved a $2.8 billion, 11-year hybrid contract with Boeing to modify F-15K Slam Eagle fighters for the South Korean air force, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Military families living far from US bases to see prescription costs eliminated Active-duty family members enrolled in Tricare Prime Remote will not pay copayments for covered prescription medications filled at retail pharmacies.

Prescription copayments paid by some military families living far from military health facilities will soon be waived under a change to the Tricare insurance program.

South Korean airlifter makes emergency landing in Japan following engine issue A South Korean military transport plane made an emergency landing at a Japanese airport on Okinawa after the crew detected engine trouble.

A South Korean military transport plane bound for Saudi Arabia made an emergency landing at a Japanese airport on Okinawa after the crew detected engine trouble, according to South Korea’s air force.